Top-spinner



E. B. HARRINGTON.

TOP SPINNER. APPLICATION FILED JAN-2. 1920.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

' To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE IB. HARRINGTON, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

TOP-SPINNER.

. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Top-Spinners, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to mechanical means for spinning tops and similar articles; and the object of the improvement is to provide a simple and durable device which may be held in one hand while a swift rotation is given to the spinning head by the other hand, means being provided to give tension to the spinning tape or strap, means also bein provided on the spinning head for holding the different kinds of tops, fliers and similar devices; and the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the top spinner with a common form of top attached to the spinning head in position for spinning; and Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the single pin form of top shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the top spinner showing the spinning head with the openings therein for the spinning pins. F ig.

4 is a lengthwise sectional view of the top spinner at line in Fig. 1 showing the construction and arrangement of the top head and spinning tape with theautomatic tension brake for the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a'modification of the spinning head in the shape of a wirehaving curved ends to engage the double spinning pins; and Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the top holding portion of said modification of the spinning head shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the double pin top such as is used for flying tops. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a wooden block spinning head in substantially the shape shown in the wire modification in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig.9 1s a further modification of the spinninghead for use on curvedtops having a resilient frictional'holding means, preferably of rubber, for the top while spinning the same; and Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the modification shown in Fig. 9.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The top spinner comprises the handle which is designated by the numeral 11, and

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed January 2, 1920. Serial No. 348,852.

has the head 12 thereon with the open ended slot 13 therein within which the spinning wheels or pulleys l4 and 15 are revolubly mounted, the wheels 15 being mounted out of line upon each side of the wheel 14 to give tension to the spinning tape or strap 16.

' The pulleys 15 are placed slightly to one side of the main spinning pulley 14, and a curved brake or tension piece '17 is pivotally mounted on a pin 18 in line with the pulley 14 so as to give an even brake or tension on each of the pulleys 15 in order that the sp nning tape 16 may be drawn through the spinner 1n either direction with any desired tensional stress on the tape in spinning the diflferent forms of tops 19, 20 or 21. The pulley 14 is mounted upon or made integral with a tubular pin or shaft 22 having a hole 23 in each end or extending through the same to receive the stem 24 of the different forms of tops, thereby adapting the splnner to most of the many different forms of tops now on the market and in common use.

The pin or shaft 22 extends through the slotted head 12 of the spinner and has on each end a spinning head 25 so that the spinning head is double sided that is, it may be used on either side of the spinner, thus avoiding the necessity of turning the same and making the spinner more convenient and speedy for use. The spinning head 24 has preferably two openings 26 therein equi-distanct from the axis of the pin or shaft 22 to receive the spinning pin 27, or

pins 28. The top 19 has a single spinning or rotating pin 27, and the top 20 has two pins 28,

all equidistant from the axis of the top stem 24 and spaced to fit within the openings 26 in the spinning heads 25; The single pin top 19 is preferred for many games since it separates more easily from the spinning head, while the double pin top 20 is preferred as a flying top, or feats in jumping and the like.

It is apparent that the modified forms shown by the wire 29 or block 30 in place of the spinning head 25 will attain the desired purpose of said head for certain forms of fliers wherein it is desirable to have lightness and visibility in the spinning head. The form 25, however, is preferred on account of its durability and adaptability for most of the common forms of tops.

The modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 given sufiicient frictional tension on the pulhas the concave spinning head 31, a resilient frictional holding ring 82 being provided within the concave head for pressing upon the oval ended top 21 to thereby hold the same while giving momentum to its 'ot tlOIl. i The spinning strap or tape 16 is usually ley 14 by drawing around first one pulley 15, then around the pulley 1%, then around the other pulley 15, but in certain forms of spinning and for worn or thin straps or tapes 16, it is necessary to give added tension, and a curved oscillative brake or to;- sion block 17 is provided as stated. t is apparent that if the tape 16 is drawn across either end of the brake block 17, the opposite end will be pressed against the tape 16 and wheel 15, thereby giving as strong a tension to said tape as may be desired, the tension being regulated by the pressure. A little practice enables the user to quickly adjust the tensionof the brake block 17 as may be desired. When no tension is needed, the action of the brake block 17 is escaped by simply drawing the tape 16 in a straight line or away from said brake block 1".

It is now apparent that the stem 241 of any of the different formsof tops 19, 20 or 21 may be placed in the hole 23, the pins 27 or 28 engage in the openings 26 or on each side of the modified wire head 29 or block 80, and the tape 16 given a sharp pull which rotates the top witha swift spinning movement, the spinning head being lifted from the top immediately after the conclusion of said sharp pull on the tape 16. It is obvious that when the two pins 28 engage in theopenings 26, or against each side of the modified heads 29 and 30, said double holding of the top 20 gives just su'fiicient frictional grip on said top to permit flying the same at the close of the spinning process.

It is apparent also that in the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 for the oval endedtop 21, a concave head 31 may be pressed down onto the. end of the top 21 7 after the stem 24. is inserted in the opening 23 within said concave head 31, thereby pressing the resilientrubber ring 32 into frictional contact with the oval end of the top 21, giving an even frictional holding of said top during the spinning process and separating quickly and evenly therefrom when the spinner is raised from said top at the close of the spinning movement. The tape 16 preferably has a loop or knot 33 on each end so that said tape cannot be unthreaded from the spinning head by being drawn through the same in the act of spinning thetop..

The'brake piece 17 being curved on its surface adjacent the pulleys 15 on both sides permits the draw of the tape 16 in either direction so as to giveeither a right or left spin to the top as desired in different games, the brake piece 17 acting exactly the same in either direction as shown in solid and dotted outline in Fig. 1.

I claim as new:

1. A spinner for tops comprising a handle having a slotted head, a spinning pulley rotatahly mounted on a shaft in the slot in said head, spinning heads on each end of said shaft of said spinning pulley outside said head having openings therein to receive the stern and spinning pins of tops, a spinning tape or strap extending around said spinning pulley, and a pair of pulleys out of line with and on opposite sides of said spinning pulley to give tension to the draw of said spinning strap to spin said heads.

2. A spinnner for topscomprising a handle having a slotted head, a spinning pulley rotatably mounted in the slot in said head, spinning heads on each end of the shaft of said spinning pulley one on each side of said head having openings therein to receive the stem and spinning pins of tops, a spinning tape or strap extending around said spinning pulley, a pair of pulleys out of line with said spinning pulley to give tensional draw to said spinning strap, and a pivotally mounted brake piece in said slot to give tension to said strap by the draw of the same over one end of said brake.

3. A spinner for tops comprising a handle having a slotted head, a spinning pulley rotatably mounted in the slot in said head, spinning means for the top on each end of the shaft of said spinning pulley one on each side of said head, said shaft having an opening in each end thereof to receive the stem of the topto spin the same, apair of pulleys rotatably mounted in said slot equi-distant toward said handle from said shaft of said spinning pulley, aflexible spinning tape or strap extending under'one i of said pair of pulleys and over said spinning pulley and under theother of said pair of pulleys to give'tensional draw on said spinning strap, and a tension piece pivotally mounted in said, slot equi-distant 7 from said tension pulleys to give tension to said strap by the draw of the same over the curved ends of said tension piece in either 5. In a top spinner, a handle, a rotatable spinning member borne by the handle, a pair of rotatable guiding members borne by the handle and arranged on opposite sides of the spinning member, and a tape engaged around said member and with the guiding members and having its ends extending laterally of the handle and on opposite sides thereof.

6. In a top spinner, a handle, a rotatable spinning member borne by the handle, a pair of rotatable guiding members borne by the handle and arranged on opposite sides of the spinning member, a tape engaged around said member and with the guiding members and having its ends extending laterally of the handle and on opposite sides thereof, and a brake disposed to have parts lie opposite to each of the guiding members.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE B. HARRINGTON. Witnesses:

C. V. SWANSON, L. T. BALDWIN. 

